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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a complaint against Golden Heart Games, a charity sweepstakes operator located in Massachusetts, for providing illegal internet gambling services within the state. Golden Heart Games has previously been cautioned by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) for operating without the proper license.
Nessel obtained an assurance of discontinuance from Golden Heart Games through the Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement Division, essentially shutting down its activities in Michigan. The measure was designed to prevent unauthorized gambling from diverting revenue away from critical state initiatives.
Golden Heart Games runs a charity sweepstakes in which participants may play free-to-play online casino games such as slots and video poker. Players make charitable donations and earn in-game cash, which they may use to wager on the available iGaming alternatives. The donations, however, do not go directly to the chosen charity; rather, they are handled via the Golden Hearts Charitable Foundation, which then distributes funds to the chosen organizations.
In August 2021, the Michigan Gaming Control Board launched an inquiry against Golden Heart Games, alleging that the operator’s operations constituted unlawful gambling in the state. Despite getting a cease-and-desist notice from the Attorney General’s Office in 2022, Golden Heart Games continues to operate. In response, the department stated its intention to sue in state court.
Faced with legal action, Golden Heart Games finally decided to discontinue its gaming activities in Michigan and signed the assurance of cessation, vowing to never again provide its games in the state. Michigan’s commitment to enforcing gaming laws and safeguarding consumers from unlawful gambling businesses is reaffirmed by this action.